Atlantic Notes: Okafor, Sullinger, Fisher

Jahlil Okafor was pulled over for driving 108 mph roughly three weeks ago, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Okafor was previously involved in two separate nightclub incidents, one in Boston and the other in Philadelphia. Coach Brett Brown addressed the latest news earlier this morning, as Pompey passes along (video via Twitter). “No differently than what we spoke about with the incident in Boston,” Brown said. “It’s part of our responsibility to help him.”

Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:

• The pairing of Okafor and Nerlens Noel hasn’t been successful this season, as the team is scoring just 90.2 points per 100 possessions with Okafor and Noel on the floor together. Despite this, the team isn’t giving up hope that the pairing can work, Pompey writes in a separate piece. “That’s the challenge of growing two players together that are 19 and 21 years old,” Brown said. “We are only 17 games in. It’s a C, and we have to bring it up to a B-plus in the not-too-distant future.”
• Through 16 games, Jared Sullinger has grabbed 20.7 % of available rebounds while on the floor, which is good for seventh in the league and coach Brad Stevens believes Sullinger’s success can be attributed to the big man’s awareness, Chris Forsberg of ESPN.com writes. “I think, positionally, he’s probably better defensively and that’s probably put him in a position to better rebound,” Stevens said. “As you get more aware, you get more experience, those things slow down for you about where you should be, and once you’re where you should be, talent takes over. And he’s in good defensive position often.” Sullinger will be a restricted free agent after the season.
• Derek Fisher will coach his 100th game for the Knicks today and Marc Berman of the New York Post examines how the former player has progressed on the sideline.